Repeat could be tough for South Plains squad

South Plains College expects a tough challenge today in repeating as national men's cross-country champions during the NJCAA Championships in Overland Park, Kan.

Dodge City, Kan., Community College, SPC and Butler County, Kan., College are ranked first, second and third, respectively, entering today's 8-kilometer event at 11:45 a.m. on the Johnson County CC campus.

"We'll have our job cut out for us against Dodge City," SPC cross country coach James Morris said. "We'll have to run our best, and we can't have anybody with a below-average race."

SPC will also compete in the women's 5K race at 10:30 a.m. Ricks, Idaho, Utah Valley and Central Arizona are among the women's favorites.

"I think we have an excellent chance to finish in the top six," Morris said.

In the men's race, Michael Sang from SPC is the top returning finisher after coming in fourth last year. Morris rates Sang and Eilud Njubi from Dodge City as co-favorites to win the event.

Njubi and Sang ran against each other Oct. 3 during the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla., with Njubi winning the event in 24:21. Sang, battling illness, was 13th in 25:04. Dodge City finished second in that event behind Arkansas, and SPC was sixth.

The SPC men have competed in every NJCAA national meet except one (1987) since 1984, never finishing worse than 14th. They won titles in 1991, 1996 and 1997. The women were sixth in 1995 and 1997 and ninth in 1996.